Control device for milking machines



Jan. 16, 1 51 A. G. PERKINS ET AL 2,538,652

CONTROL DEVICE FOR MILKING MACHINES Filed June 24, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 16, 1951 A. G. PERKINS ET AL 2,538,652

CONTROL DEVICE FOR MILKING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 24, 1946 Patented Jan. 16, 1951 i NT GEQE CONTROL-DEVICE FOB MILKING MACHINES Albert G. Perkins, Grand Island, and Raoul Du Quette, Buffalo, N. Y.; said Du Quette assignor to said Perkins Application June 24, 1946, Serial No. 678,938

17 Claims. (01. 31-86) This invention relates to certain new and usefu Similar characters of reference indicate correimprovements in control devices for automati- SpOIldiIlg parts throughout the several views. cally controlling the operation of milking ma- Referring now to the drawings, wherein we chine. have shown our control device or controlled It has for one of its objects to provide a device quarter milker applied to a pulsating type of of this character designed to prevent over-milkmilking machine of ordinary construction, l0 ining and adapted to be interposed in the milk flow dicates the milk-receiving can or receptacle havconnections between the milk-receiving receping a top or cover I! applied thereto and adapted .tacle and the teat cups of a milking machine for to be held firmly and tightly in place by the vacailtomatically releasing the teat cups from th to cum employed in the milking operation. A bail cow when the flow of milk is reduced toa predei2 is applied to the can to facilitate its handling termined minimum includin a brief stripping as well as for suspending it from the cow during period. t t the milking operation. Radiating from the top A oth r Object of the invention, is to pr v e a of the cover are milk intake tubes [3 which are pl compact and inexpensive ontrol d vi individually connected b companion flexible con- Which y be readily pp d to Present types of duits or hose connections it having teat cups l5 milking machines r automatically, eiieotnelly, at their free ends for detachable connection to and p s tiv y, d in an d al m n the cows teats. It will be noted that the mouth l in he teat p r he ow t suoh times edge. of each tube is oblique to its axis so that as the esp quarters O the COWS g when a teat cup is released or disconnected from milked y, thereby lessening the danger of the cow, as it automatically is with our control mastitis and other diseases caused by over-milkwhen t companion quarter of the ow bag has ing, and reducing the milking time to a minimum. been milked t t corresponding flexible substantially in the plane of line 4-6, Figure l, 50

A urt c f the invention is to provide duit will bend or fold over the edge of the tube individual vacuum-governed control units which 5 and thereby close 1 its mouth so as not t are so designed and constructed as to be readily t t vacuum i th system r i terfe e with attac ed 0 o iBteTIJOSBd in e teat Cup connec' the milking operation of the other quarters of the tions of milking'machines, which can be easily cows bag Applied t t t of th cover is the cleaned and are free from moving parts in the pulsator 53 of the machine the same being milk flow stream, and which embody adj nected to a tube ll communicating with the sucmeans for controlling at the will of the operator tion source, and leading fro t i t b i n 01 dairy attendant; the Stripping time desiredin auxiliary suction tube It connected to a manifold he milking Operation pipe it having individual suction tubes I53 in other features of the invention reside in t vacuum communication with our individual con- Construction and arrangement of parts harem trol units indicated generally by the numeral 20,

after describedand particularly pointedin which are interposed in the companion milk flow the appended conduits I i and through which the milk flows In the ocoompanyme i i Flgure 1S from the cow to the can. perspective Vlew a mflkmg machnte of ordtnary Each of the control units operates individually construction showing our control units associated 40 and independently of the Others to automaticany therewlth P, of the teat cups p m their cut off the vacuum to the companion quarters of Opel" h t and another bemg m an n}- the cows bag and to cause the automatic release Operatlve posmon after havmg.been or dropping of the companion teat cup from the Cally ljeleased m Flgure 2 IS a cow at such time as that quarter is milked out or elevation, partly in section, of one of the contro finished milking, including a brief stripping units and the n gF t z ifi; period. This action results when the milk flow is an enlarged c1105? sec gag g arcs; reduced during the stripping period, causin a me Flgure IS an en g8 A variation in the partial vacuum to which the cont ken tion of one of the milk flow control units a trol unit is Subjected and a cutting ofi of the vacuum in the system to the companion teat cup as well as a shutting off of the milk line from the sectional view with the parts shown in the positeat cup to such unit. It will be understood that tion they assume at the end of a milking operaone of these control units is operatively intertion. Figure 6 is a'bottom plan View, partly in 55 posed in each teat cup connection It and a deshowing the position of the parts in their inoperative or normal position. Figure 5 is a similar section, of one of the control units. scription of one will sufiice for alL In the preferred construction of the control unit shown in the drawings, it consists of a hollow or chambered body through which the milk flows from the cow to the can and which is subjected to the vacuum of the milking machine, being composed of opposing separable sections 2|, 22 made of metal or like materials detachably joined together by a coupling ring or collar 23, the opposing ends of such sections terminating in annular flanges 26 about which the coupling ring fits. These chambered sections are divided or separated by a displaceable partition or diaphragm 25 to provide a milk flow and vacuum influenced chamber 26 and a vacuum control chamber 21. The coupling ring and diaphragm are preferably of an integral construction, being made of rubber or like flexible material, and the diaphragm is responsive to variations of vacuum pressure in the chambers and functions by its displacement as a control element in governing the vacuum in such chambers as well as the flow of milk through the chamber as it is drawn from the cow to the can Ill. The chamber section 21 has a milk intake passage 28 and a milk outlet passage 29 therein and detachably connected to the nipple-ends 3B of these passages are the companion sections of the milk-flow conduit [4, whereby the milk flows from the teat cup IE to the control unit chamber 26 and thence to the milk-receiving can. Centrally of this milk chamber, the intake passage 28 terminates in a port 3! which is open during the normal milking operation but which is adapted to be automatically closed by the diaphragm 25 when the fiowof milk from the cow is reduced to a predetermined minimum. Suitable vents or bleeders 30 are provided between the conduit-sections l4 and the attaching nipples 3.0 to facilitate the breaking of the vacuum in the milk-flow line when the milking operation is automatically completed from a given quarter of the cows bag.

The vacuum control chamber 21 has a vacuum intake passage 32 having its outer or nippleend 33 connected to the, source of vacuum by the companion manifold branch tube I9, while its inner-end terminates in a port 36 communicating with such chamber through a valve-supporting cage 35 formed integrally with the chamber-forming section 2|. movement on this cage is the stem 35 of an exhaust valve 36 for controlling the port 34, a spring 3? normally urging the valve toward its closed position. At its other end the valve stem has a head 33 thereon which normally abuts against the opposing side of the diaphragm 25, and the normal relation of the parts is such that the diaphragm has sufiicient tension to overcome that of the spring (#7 to retain or hold the valve 3% in its open position in readiness to build up a vacuum in the chamber 21 when the milking machine is connected for operation. However, when the diaphragm is distended in a direction away from the valve head, due to a variation in vacuum in the respective chambers 26, 2'1, then the exhaust valve will be closed by it spring and the vacuum in the chamber 2'! will be gradually reduced.

Also contained in the vacuum chamber 2? is a lowvacuum release valve 39 of piston-like form which is guided for vertical movement in a valve cage 40 formed integrally with the bodysection 22 and which controls an air intake port 4| opening intothe atmosphere. A spring 42 Guided for vertical normally urges the valve to its open position and it is displaced to a closed position by the suction pressure in the chamber.

An adjustable valve means is employed for controlling the stripping time of milking to suit individual farmers or dairy attendants and for this purpose we provide an adjustable needle valve 33 fitted in the body-section 22 for controlling an exhaust port M communicating with an air intake passage 35 opening into the atmosphere. A pointer 4'6 and scale 4? serve to facilitate the adjustment of this valve to govern the time element of reducing the vacuum pressure in the chamber 2? below that in the companion chamber 26 to thereby cause a distention of the diaphragm 25 to a position to bring it into closing relation with the milk intake port 31, and thus cut on the vacuum to the companion teat cup.

A check valve 43 is interposed in the auxiliary suction tube 53 which is normally spring-urged to its closed position but which is adapted to be opened by the suction when the milking machine is rendered operative. If desired, and in lieu of a common check valve, however, a. similar check valve d9 may be applied to each of the control units, as shown in Figure 4, and in both installations such valve also functions as a governor in reducing the vacuum in the chamber 2? from 15 inches to approximately IZinches.

The vacuum in the vacuum control chamber 21, during the operation of the machine is at approximately 12 inches, while that. in the milk flow chamber 26, is subject to vary.

In the operation of the device, the'machine is connected to the source of vacuum in the usual manner to build up a partial vacuum in the vacuumchamber 2'! of the respective control units to approximately 12 inches, at which pressure the low vacuum release valve 39 is in its closed position and the exhaust valve 36 assumes its normal open position. The respective teat cups l5 are then connected to the cow in the usual manner and a partial vacuum is thereupon built up in the milk flow chamber 26 of each control unit. As the milk starts flowing from the cow into the milk-receiving can It), there is a variation in the partial vacuums in the companion chambers 26, 2'? of each control unit, with the diaphragm 25 being partially distended in one. direction at a given stroke of the milk pumping cycle to render the spring 3i operative toclose the valve. 36 and at a subsequent stroke of the cycle to cause the diaphragm to be partially distended in the opposite direction to again open said valve 35; and subject the chamber 27 to its normal suction pressure. When theflow of milk from any one of the quarters of the cows bag is reduced to a predetermined rate or that quarter is milked out, the vacuum in the chamber 25 of the companion control unit is such that it will not permit the distention of the diaphragm in a direction to cause the opening of the valve: 36. Hence, this valve remains closed by its. spring pressure and the vacuum in the chamber 2''! is gradually reduced because of the admission of atmosphere through the needle valve 43,, the setting of the latter termining the stripping period desired in completing the milking of the companion quarter of the cows bag. When the vacuum in this chamber 27 is thus reduced to approximately six inches, the low Vacuum release valve 39 is automatically opened by the spring M'to a low additional atmosphere to enter said upper chamber through the port 4!. Thereupom the diaphragm, due to absence the differential in pressures in the companion chambers 26, 2?, is smartly distended to the position shown in Figure 5, where it closes the milk intake port 3|, shutting. off the vacuum at the companion teat cup and causing it to drop by gravity from the cows teat. When the teat cup 7 drops, its hose connection l4 folds over the oblique mouth of the companion cover-intake tube is, thereby sealing oi the vacuum between the milk flowchamber of the control unit and the receptacle, and permitting atmosphere-tobe admitted through vents 39 to the chamber 26 which allows the diaphragm 25'to return to its normal position and open the'valve 36 in readiness to start the next milking operation.

For the purpose of quickly building up the partial vacuum in the device and holding the vacuum in the chamber'z'l for a predetermined time period at the start of the milking operation, we preferably provide a leaf-suspended valve 5!] in operative relation to the needle valve control port 44 and having a flexible connection, such as a spring 5!, to a piston 52 operating in a dash pot or cylinder 53 formed in the body-section 22. This valve is normally held open by its suspension leaf, but when the vacuum is built up in the chamber 2?, the piston 52 is displaced outwardly of its dash pot and the valve is correspondingly moved to its closed position. The valve is held in this closed position until the air in the dash pot is displaced to equalize the pressure at opposite ends of the piston, when the valve-suspension leaf restores the valve to its normally open position.

We claim as our invention:

1. The combination with a milking machine having teat connections for conducting the milk by vacuum from the cow to a milk-receiving can, of automatically controlled, vacuum-responsive means including diaphragm-divided vacuum and milk fiow chambers interposed in vacuum and milk flow communication with the vacuum source and said teat connections, respectively, for individually shutting off the vacuum to the teat connections and the flow of milk therethrough when the surge of milk from the companion quarter a of the cows bag substantially ceases, said automatic means including an adjustable air intake control element operatively associated with the vacuum chamber for governing the strippingperiod desired in completing the milking of the companion quarter of the cows bag.

2. Means for automatically controlling the operation of milking machines having teat connections, comprising control units individually interposed in the teat connections thereof and each including a body having a diaphragm therein forming at one side thereof a chamber including an inlet and an outlet through which the milk -flo'ws from the companion quarter of the cows bag to the receptacle and at its opposite side a second chamber adapted for connection to a source of vacuum, and valve means in said second chamber governed in part by said diaphragm and responsive to the change of vacuum therein I posed in each connection and including a milk flow chamber through which the milk flows from vacuum control chamber including a valved intake port and a valved vent, and means disposed in correlation to said chambers and in governing relation to said milk control port and said vacuum port and responsive to the variations of vacuum in such chambers for automatically closing the intake port of the vacuum chamber and the control port of the milk flow chamber for causing the release of the teat connection from the cow when the companion quarter of its bag is milked out. 7

4. The combination with a milking machine of the pulsating type having teat connections for "conducting the milk from the cow to a milk receiving can, of a vacuum-governed unit interposed in each connection and including a milk flow chamber having a control port through which the milk'flows from the cow to the can, a vacuum control chamber in vacuum communication with the machine and having a normally-open vacuum intake control valve and a normally vacuumclosed vent valve including a spring for causing its opening, and diaphragm-like means dividing said chambers and normally engaging said vacuum intake valve to hold it open and responsive to the reduced vacuum condition in said control chamber, when the surge of milk substantially ceases, to assume a distended position into the milk flow chamber to close its control port, said vacuum control valve having a spring for closing it when the diaphragm-like means is displaced therefrom.

5. The combination with a milking machine of the pulsating type having teat connections for conducting the milk from the cow to a milk receiving can, of a vacuum-governed unit interposed in each connection and including a milk flow chamber having a control port through which the milk flows from the cow to the can, a vented vacuum control chamber having a normally-open control valve and communicating with the source of vacuum, and a diaphragm separating said chambers and in governing relation to said control port and said control valve and responsive to the change of vacuum therein L for causing, when the surge of milk through such connection substantially ceases, the closing of said vacuum control valve and the closing of said milk flow control ports 6. In a milking machine having teat connections for conducting the milk by vacuum from the cow to a milk-receiving can, of individual control units interposed in the teat connections and each including a hollow body having a vacuuminfluenced, displaceable diaphragm fitted therein and forming a chamber at one side thereof in milk flow communication with the companion teat connection and including a normally-open milk control port and having a chamber at the opposite side thereof in communication with the source of vacuum of the milking machine and including a normally-open vacuum control port and an air intake port, and a valve for said vacuum control port normally urged in a direction to close to a milk re s tion to said valve to cause its closing and into closing relation with the milk flow control port.

7. The combination with a milking machine of the pulsating type having teat connections for conducting the milk by vacuum from the cow to a milk-receiving can, of control units individually interposed in said teat connections and through which the milk flows from the respective quarters of the cows bag to the receptacle, each oisaid units including a vacuum chamber having an intake port adapted for connection to a source of vacuum and a chamber in milk flow communication with the companion teat connections and having a control port, a normally-open vacuum control valve for said intake port, a valved port for governing the admission of atmosphere to the vacuum chamber, and a vacuum-infiuenced diaphragm disposed between said chambers in operative governing relation to said vacuum, control valve and to said milk-flow control port for closing the same when the surge of milk from the companion quarter of the cows bag substantially ceases.

8 The combination with a milking machine of the pulsating type having teat connections for conducting the milk by vacuum from the cow to a milk-receiving can, of a control unit interposed in each of the teat connections and including a chambered member having one chamber connected to the source of vacuum and the other in vacuum milk flow communication with the companion teat connection, and means in said chambered member and responsive to a change of vacuum therein for shutting on the vacuum to the first-named chamber and the flow of milk through the second-named chamber when the flow of milk is reduced as determined by a desired stripping period.

9. The combination with a milking machine of the pulsating type having teat connections for conducting the milk by vacuum from the cow to a milk-receiving can, of a control unit interposed in each of the teat connections and including a hollow body having a vacuum-influenced diaphragm therein dividing the same into opposing chambers, one chamber being adapted for connection to a source of vacuum and the other chamber being in milk flow communication with the companion teat connection, means in said chambers and controlled by said diaphragm for shutting off the vacuum thereto and flow of milk therethrough at such time as the companion quarter of the cows bag is milked out, and an adjustable air intake valve for said vacuum chamber for governing the action of the: diaphragm and for determining the stripping period of the milking operation.

10. Means for automatically controlling the operation of a milking machine having teat connections for conducting the milk by vacuum from. the cow to a milk-receivingv can, comprising a control unit interposed in each of the teat connections and including a hollow body having a vacuum-influenced diaphragm therein dividing the same into opposing chambers, one chamber being adapted for connection to a source of vacuum and having vacuum and vent control valves therein, and the other chamber being in: milk flow communication with the companion teat connection and having a normally open milk flow control port therein in operative relation to said diaphragm to be closed thereby when the flow of milk from the companion quarter of the cows substantially ceases.

11. The combination with a milking machine 8 having milk-conveying conduits including teat cups thereon for connection to the cows teats, of vacuum-governed control units interposed in said conduits for individually breaking the vacuum to such cups when the companion quarters of the cows bag are milked out and automatically causing the'release of the cups'from the cows teat,

each of said units including a milk intake port and a vacuum communicating port, a control valve for said vacuum port, and vacuum-responsive means disposed in correlation with said milk intake port and said valve for governing their closing when the flow of milk from the companion quarter of the cows bag substantially ceases.

12. The combination with a milking machine having milk' conveying conduits including teat cu-ps thereon for connection to the cows teats, of vacuum-governed control units interposed in said conduits for individually breaking the vacuum to such cups when the companion quarters of the cows bag are milked out and automatically causing the release of the cups from the cows teats, each of said units including a milk intake port and a vacuum communicating port, a control valve for said vacuum port, a spring for urging said valve to its closed position, and vacuum-responsive, displaceable means disposed in correlation with said milk intake port and said valve for governing their closing when the flow of milk from the companion quarter of the cows bag substantially ceases, said means in its normalnon-displaced position retaining said control valve in its open position against the tension. of said spring.

13. The combination with a milking machine having milk-conveying conduits including teat cups thereon for connection to the cows teats, of vacuum-governed control units interposed in said conduits for individually breaking the vacuum to such cups when the companion quarters of the cows bag have been milked out and automatically causing the release of the cups from the cows teats, each of said units including non-communicating milk flow and vacuum control chambers, a milk intake port in communication with the companion milk-conveying conduit and opening into said milk flow chamber, a vacuum communicating port in said vacuum chamber, a control valve for said vacuum port, a normally-open, vacuum-governed air intake valve in said vacuum chamber, and a vacuum-responsive diaphragm dividing saidchambers and disposed in correlation with said milk intake port and said control valve for governing their closing when the flow of milk from the companion quarter of the cows bag substantialtially ceases.

14. The combination with a milking machine having milk-conveying conduits including teat cups thereon for connection to the cows teats,

of vacuum-governed control units interposed in said conduits for individually breaking the vacuum to such cups when the companion quarters of the cows bag have been milked out and automatically causing the release of the cups from the cows teats, each of said units including a milk intake port and a vacuum communicating port, a control valve for said" vacuum port, vacuum-responsive means disposed in correlation with said milk intake port and said valve for governing their closing when the flow of milk from the companion quarter of the cows bag substantial- 7sly ceases, and a regulating valve for admitting 9 atmosphere to each unit for controlling the stripping time of milking.

15. In a device of the character described, a hollow body composed of opposing, chamberforming sections adapted to be detachably coupled in sealed relation, a vacuum-responsive diaphragm disposed between and separating the companion chamber-forming sections, one of said sections being adapted for interflow communication with a liquid-conveying conduit and having an intake port opening into the chamber thereof, and the companion chamber-forming section having a passage therein adapted for connection to a source of vacuum and terminating in a port opening into the chamber thereof, and a valve for controlling said vacuum port, said diaphragm being disposed in operative relation to the liquid intake port and said valve to govern the opening of the latter in one position thereof and the closing of said intake port in another position thereof.

16. In a device of the character described, a hollow body composed of opposing, chamberforming sections adapted to be detachably coupled in sealed relation, a vacuum-responsive diaphragm disposed between and separating the comp-anion chamber-forming sections, one of said sections being adapted for interfiow communication with a liquid-conveying conduit and having an intake port opening into the chamber thereof, and the companion chamber-forming section having a passage therein adapted for connection to a source of vacuum and terminatin sealed relation, a vacuum-responsive diaphragm disposed between and separating the companion chamber-forming sections, one of said sections being adapted for interflow coming in a port opening into the chamber thereof,

a valve for controlling said vacuum port including a spring for normally urging it to a closed position, and a normally-open vacuum-governed release valve for establishing communication be-l Number munication with a liquid-conveying conduit and having an intake port opening into the chamber thereof, and the companion chamber-forming section having a passage therein adapted for connection to a source of vacuum and terminating in a port-opening into the chamber thereof, a valve for controlling said vacuum port including a spring for normally urging it to a closed position, a normally-open, vacuum-governed release valve for establishing communication between the vacuum chamber and the atmosphere, said diaphragm being disposed in operative relation to the vacuum port valve and the intake port to govern the closing of the latter in one position thereof and in another position thereof to maintain said vacuum port valve open against the tension of its spring, and an adjustable needle valve fitted in the vacuum chambered section for governing the admission of atmosphere thereto.

ALBERT G. PERKINS. RAOUL DU QUETTE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Henrichsen Nov. 2, 1909 Sorensen Sept. 8, 1914 Kricke May 16, 1916 Paarmann Aug. 27, 1918 Hofmeister Aug. 16 1921 Deming Aug. 26, 1930 McNeal June 21, 1938 Gundersen Mar. 5, 1940 Paulus Jan. 5, 1943 Griswold Dec. 26, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Sweden Nov. 22, 1922 Number 

